The CPI(ML) held a National Convention “For National Resistance Against UPA’s Pro-Imperialist Betrayal” at Constitution Club in Delhi on 23 Jul
y, the date of the first political strike by the Indian working class. Held a day after the trust vote in Parliament, the Convention was attended by hundreds of activists from Punjab and Delhi. The Convention was addressed by noted journalist Praful Bidwai, Dr. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Sumit Chakravarti, Editor, Mainstream, and journalist Javed Naqvi. CPI(ML)’s Punjab State Secretary Comrade Rajvinder Rana as well as CPI(ML) leader and former Punjab MLA Comrade Tarsem Jodhan addressed the Convention. Comrade D Raja of the CPI, RSP MP Abani Roy and Forward Bloc leader Comrade Devarajan also addressed the Convention. CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya was the main speaker at the Convention. The Convention adopted a resolution: “The ‘Cash flash’ episode has put Indian Parliament under a shadow of shame. This Convention demands a thorough and speedy enquiry into the entire episode so that the Indian people can exercise their right to know the facts about this sordid scene by their 
elected representatives. The showdown over the Nuke Deal in Parliament is over, but the real battle in the people’s court starts today. While the Government may have managed to survive, their act of pro-imperialist betrayal is bound to face defeat in the people’s court. From this Convention today, on July 23, the historic anniversary of the first political strike of the Indian working class against the colonial regime, we resolve to intensify the struggle to demand scrapping of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal and other pro-imperialist policies, and to make the General Strike called by Central Trade Unions on August 20 a mass people’s action against the pro-imperialist betrayal of the nation by the ruling parties.”